Danny Romero
Encyclopedia
Daniel Gregorio Romero was a former world champion professional boxer
. His nickname is "Kid Dynamite
".
Romero is a devoted Catholic. The fact that he and hometown arch-rival Johnny Tapia
were world champions at the same weight, during the same time, made boxing fans talk about a fight between the two long before the mega-fight actually took place.
. His first eight bouts all took place in the Phoenix area, and he won all, seven by knockout
. His first fight outside Phoenix was on April 13, 1993, when he knocked out Alberto Cantu in three rounds at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
. On May 22 of that year, he had his first professional fight in his hometown, knocking out Silverio Porras in two rounds.
Romero won five more bouts in a row, including a victory over former Alex Sanchez
world title challenger Orlando Malone, before having his first chance to fight for a belt: On May 5, 1994, he knocked out Brian Lonon in two rounds to win the NABF regional Flyweight title.
He retained the title four times, and added three non-title victories, before challenging for a world championship for the first time. On April 22, 1995, he became the IBF
's world Flyweight champion with a twelve round unanimous decision over Francisco Tejedor, at the MGM Grand Arena
, in Las Vegas
. He defended the title once, then faced the unheralded Willy Salazar in a non-title bout, on September 8. Romero suffered a 7th round TKO loss to Salazar, in what Ring Magazine heralded as the "upset of the year" for 1995. In that fight he was ahead on all score cards before having the fight stopped due to an eye injury. He bounced back with a first round knockout victory over former WBO
world Flyweight champion Jose Quirino
.
Romero then decided to move up in weight division, to the Super Flyweight division. After one win in that division, he was given a chance at his second world championship. On August 24, 1996, Romero knocked out Colombia
n Harold Grey
in two rounds to conquer his second world title. Even as he had lost to Salazar previously, interest in a fight between Romero and Tapia began to increase.
After winning two more fights, both times Romero retaining his world title by knockout, Romero and Tapia met to unify the IBF and WBO world Super Flyweight championships. Albuquerque police announced previous to the fight, that they were prepared for any gang related violence
to take place on the streets of Albuquerque during fight night, but the only incident happened 33,000 feet over the ground, as two individuals of the conflicting sides coincided in a Southwest Airlines
flight to Las Vegas, where the fight was held at. It was a minor incident and no further violence occurred. On July 18, 1997, the long-awaited bout finally took place, with Tapia winning a close twelve round unanimous decision, to inflict Romero his second career defeat.
Romero won three fights in a row, then lost, on Halloween night
, 1998 to Vujani Bungu by a twelve round decision in an attempt to win a title in a third division, this time the IBF Super-Bantamweight title.
Romero would go on to win ten of his next twelve bouts, including a first round knockout over former world champion Rodolfo Blanco
and a sixth round knockout over the respected Famosito Gomez. On September 27, 2002, Danny fought Cruz Carbajal
but the fight was stopped by the referee due to and injury suffered in the first round.
On May 23, 2003, in front of his hometown crowd following a twelve round unanimous decision win over Trinidad Mendoza gave him his third world title in three different weight classes IBA
's Super-Bantamweight title.
jobs, specifically for the Showtime boxing network as well as commercials and movies.
Developed his own promotional company called "Danny Romero Productions." The company promotes shows of any kind and currently has professional fighters signed to the company. A private boxing gym was purchased to provide his fighters with elite training. The gym prepares Danny as well as his pro fighters for possible upcoming events.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. His nickname is "Kid Dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
".
Romero is a devoted Catholic. The fact that he and hometown arch-rival Johnny Tapia
Johnny Tapia
John Lee "Johnny" Tapia is a Mexican-American five-time world boxing champion.-Childhood:Johnny Tapia's life began with tragedy. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. At the age of 8, his mother Virginia was kidnapped, raped, hung, repeatedly stabbed, and...
were world champions at the same weight, during the same time, made boxing fans talk about a fight between the two long before the mega-fight actually took place.
Professional career
Romero's first fight as a professional was on September 14, 1992, when he knocked out Raul Hernandez in the first round at Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. His first eight bouts all took place in the Phoenix area, and he won all, seven by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
. His first fight outside Phoenix was on April 13, 1993, when he knocked out Alberto Cantu in three rounds at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay Saint Louis is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,209. It is the county seat of Hancock County...
. On May 22 of that year, he had his first professional fight in his hometown, knocking out Silverio Porras in two rounds.
Romero won five more bouts in a row, including a victory over former Alex Sanchez
Alex Sánchez (boxer)
Alex "El Nene" Sánchez is a retired Puerto Rican professional boxer.-Boxing career:Sánchez began his professional boxing career on October 4, 1991, knocking out Carlos Figueroa in round one at Mayagüez, Puerto Rico....
world title challenger Orlando Malone, before having his first chance to fight for a belt: On May 5, 1994, he knocked out Brian Lonon in two rounds to win the NABF regional Flyweight title.
He retained the title four times, and added three non-title victories, before challenging for a world championship for the first time. On April 22, 1995, he became the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
's world Flyweight champion with a twelve round unanimous decision over Francisco Tejedor, at the MGM Grand Arena
MGM Grand Arena
MGM Grand Garden Arena is located in the MGM Grand in Paradise, Nevada, USA, and is patterned after New York's Madison Square Garden. The arena has a seating capacity of 16,800 people and is located at 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South.-Notable events hosted:...
, in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
. He defended the title once, then faced the unheralded Willy Salazar in a non-title bout, on September 8. Romero suffered a 7th round TKO loss to Salazar, in what Ring Magazine heralded as the "upset of the year" for 1995. In that fight he was ahead on all score cards before having the fight stopped due to an eye injury. He bounced back with a first round knockout victory over former WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
world Flyweight champion Jose Quirino
Jose Quirino
José Quirino was a Mexican boxer in the Super Featherweight division. He is the former WBO Super Flyweight Champion.-WBO Super Flyweight Championship:...
.
Romero then decided to move up in weight division, to the Super Flyweight division. After one win in that division, he was given a chance at his second world championship. On August 24, 1996, Romero knocked out Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n Harold Grey
Harold Grey
Harold Grey was the International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion twice in the mid 1990s. He was born in Arjona, Bolívar.-Pro career:...
in two rounds to conquer his second world title. Even as he had lost to Salazar previously, interest in a fight between Romero and Tapia began to increase.
After winning two more fights, both times Romero retaining his world title by knockout, Romero and Tapia met to unify the IBF and WBO world Super Flyweight championships. Albuquerque police announced previous to the fight, that they were prepared for any gang related violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
to take place on the streets of Albuquerque during fight night, but the only incident happened 33,000 feet over the ground, as two individuals of the conflicting sides coincided in a Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
flight to Las Vegas, where the fight was held at. It was a minor incident and no further violence occurred. On July 18, 1997, the long-awaited bout finally took place, with Tapia winning a close twelve round unanimous decision, to inflict Romero his second career defeat.
Romero won three fights in a row, then lost, on Halloween night
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
, 1998 to Vujani Bungu by a twelve round decision in an attempt to win a title in a third division, this time the IBF Super-Bantamweight title.
Romero would go on to win ten of his next twelve bouts, including a first round knockout over former world champion Rodolfo Blanco
Rodolfo Blanco
Rodolfo Blanco is a former boxer from Colombia who held the International Boxing Federation flyweight title in 1992.Blanco became a professional boxer in 1982. In 1987 he challenged Myung Woo Yuh for the World Boxing Association light flyweight title, losing by an eighth-round knockout. In 1990 he...
and a sixth round knockout over the respected Famosito Gomez. On September 27, 2002, Danny fought Cruz Carbajal
Cruz Carbajal
Cruz Carbajal is a professional boxer of height 165 cm. He is the younger brother of Hall of Fame boxer Michael Carbajal.-Pro career:After making his debut in 1992, Carbajal won 14 of his first 17 fights...
but the fight was stopped by the referee due to and injury suffered in the first round.
On May 23, 2003, in front of his hometown crowd following a twelve round unanimous decision win over Trinidad Mendoza gave him his third world title in three different weight classes IBA
International Boxing Association
The International Boxing Association is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
's Super-Bantamweight title.
Other achievements
Romero does occasional televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
jobs, specifically for the Showtime boxing network as well as commercials and movies.
Developed his own promotional company called "Danny Romero Productions." The company promotes shows of any kind and currently has professional fighters signed to the company. A private boxing gym was purchased to provide his fighters with elite training. The gym prepares Danny as well as his pro fighters for possible upcoming events.